Excimer laser eye surgery system

Abstract

A compact excimer laser system is provided that includes argon fluoride laser gas, electronic, and laser head all compactly arranged such that the patient bed can rotate over all of these components. This allows the patient bed to be rotated for easy egress of the patient without striking the head against an optical extension through which the excimer laser is fired onto the patient's eye. Further, an automated lamellar keratoplasty system is incorporated into the electronics and components of the laser system so that laser in situ keratomileusis can be easily performed.

1. A compact excimer laser surgery system comprising:
 a patient bed enclosure with a patient surface and a patient height, said patient bed enclosure surrounding an open space, wherein the patient surface is rotatable on an axis that is generally parallel to a final laser beam path; 
 a laser disposed in said open space; 
 an electronics package for providing computer control disposed in said open space; 
 a laser head located adjacent to said patient at a height less than said patient height, said laser head being connected to said electronics package for receiving power. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1  further comprising an aiming system providing an optical path from said laser head, said aiming system disposed perpendicularly upwards from the laser head, transversely across from the laser head in an optical extension above the patient bed, the aiming system to provide the laser beam substantially perpendicular towards the eye of the patient on the patient bed. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1  further including a laser gas container disposed in said open space and cooling system components disposed in said open space adjacent to said laser gas container. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3 , wherein power components are disposed between said cooling system components and said electronics. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said patient bed is mounted on a rollers with stops, allowing said patient bed to be rolled away to provide access to said open space in said patient bed enclosure. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said patient bed is rotatable over a range up to 90 degrees.